How to run Mac OS X in Windows 10 with VMware Unlocker

Jamie Read more October 24, 2018

VMware Unlocker is a program that allows you to install Mac OS X onto any computer using VMWare or VirtualBox to create a Hackintosh. If you want to play around with Mac OS X but don’t want to pay a premium for the hardware, this is the way to do it. You can install and use Mac OS X on many Intel-based computers and experiment to your heart’s content. This tutorial will walk you through how to run Mac OS X in Windows 10 with VMware Unlocker.

How to run Mac OS X in Windows 10 with VMware Unlocker

A Hackintosh is the popular term for installing Mac OS X onto a non-Apple device such as a normal PC. The OS will work much the same as on an Apple but within a virtual machine. As long as you follow these instructions exactly, you should notice no difference in terms of usability and utility between a genuine Mac and a Hackintosh.

You will need an Intel-based computer running Windows 10. You will need virtualization enabled in your UEFI/BIOS, a copy of VMware Unlocker, 7-Zip and Mac OS X for VMware. There are lots of sources of Mac OS X and I only link to one. If you want to use another, as long as it’s compatible with VMware and Hackintosh setups you’re all good. This version of Mac OS X is Yosemite and comes with VMware OS X files for use with VMware Unlocker.

Setting everything up

If you have an Intel PC and have downloaded the files above, we can get started. The Mac OS X download is around 6GB so if you haven’t gotten it already, you might want to start the download ahead of time.

Once you’re ready, it’s time to get going.

Reboot your computer and load into the UEFI/BIOS. Hit Delete when your keyboard lights up to access this.
Navigate to wherever Virtualization is within your BIOS and enable it. Different manufacturers put it in different places so explore to find yours.
Boot into Windows once enabled.
Install VMware Workstation from here.
Install 7-Zip or other free archiving tool if you don’t already have it.
Download VMware Unlocker, extract it somewhere and install it. It will patch VMware Workstation so it will load Mac OS X.
Open your Mac OS X folder and run both win-install.cmd and win-update-tools.cmd as an administrator.
Open VMware Workstation and select Open a Virtual Machine.
Select the Mac OS X VMX file you downloaded and open it.
Select Edit virtual machine settings within VMware Workstation.
Select Options and Version and set it to Mac OS X 10.7.
Change any other options you see fit such as memory, disk space and so on.
Select Power and Start Up Guest when you’re ready.
Follow the Mac OS X installation wizard that will appear. It takes a few minutes but is very good.
Go back to VMware Workstation and select Settings.
Navigate to CD/DVD and browse to the darwin.iso file from within the Mac OS X folder you downloaded.
Check the box next to Connected at the top.
Go back to Mac OS X and you should see a popup for VMware Tools. If you don’t, reboot the VM.
Install VMware Tools when prompted and reboot again.
Go back to VMware Workstation and select Settings.
Navigate to CD/DVD and browse to the BeamOff.iso file from within the Mac OS X folder.
In Mac OS X navigate to System Preferences and Users and Groups.
Select your account and then Login Items.
Select the small ‘+’ icon in the left and select BeamOff.
Reboot if prompted.

Your Hackintosh should now be fully functional. Depending on what file has been uploaded as the Mac OS X source, you may be running Yosemite or El Capitan. If this article has been published for a while, it may be something else completely. If you are prompted by OS X to perform updates, it is safe to do so. When I installed Mac OS X using this method I was prompted to upgrade to El Capitan. It took a little while but it installed and worked without any problems.

BeamOff is optional and works mainly to improve website performance. If you’re running a high spec PC, you may not need to install it but if you notice slowdowns in your Hackintosh performance, install it and see if it makes a difference.

This method isn’t exactly legal so you have to use your own judgment as to whether or not to build your own Hackintosh. TechJunkie isn’t recommending or condoning it but knowledge is free to all and if you’re going to do it, you may as well do it right.

That’s all there is to running Mac OS X in Windows 10 with VMware Unlocker. Have you tried it? Had any issues? Tell us about your experience below.